Princess Beatrice was notably absent from the Oscar's Book Prize event in west London on Tuesday evening.
The royal sent her apologies, which were delivered to attendees by James Ashton, who created the charity with his wife, Viveka Alvestrand.
Ashton took to the stage at the ultra-exclusive Ivy Club to explain the Princess's absence before announcing the coveted £10,000 award winner.
The inspirational event went ahead without its royal patron, who has been closely associated with the children's book prize since helping to judge it in 2016.
Princess Beatrice sends apologies for missing important event in London
Getty
"You may have noticed that she added to her family recently," Ashton explained to the guests.
He was referring to Princess Beatrice and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi's new baby daughter Athena.
The couple welcomed their second child in January this year. The new arrival has understandably kept the Princess busy in recent months.
Despite her absence, the prestigious children's book award ceremony continued as planned at the west London venue.
Baby Athena was born on Wednesday, January 22, just minutes before 1pmPAThe annual prize, which includes a £10,000 award, celebrates the best picture books for children under five.
Princess Beatrice has been a patron of the Oscar's Book Prize since 2017, after helping to judge the prize the previous year.
The royal has been open about her struggles with dyslexia as a child. She has previously shared how the support of her parents and the magic of stories helped her develop a love for reading.
"I am delighted to become the patron of Oscar's Book Prize," she told the Evening Standard.
Princess Beatrice is also close to William
Getty"Taking the time to read together as a family became a ritual for us, and I treasure the memories created whilst poring over the pages of the books my mother would collect for us."
She credited her mother, Sarah, her imagination and support with helping her overcome early reading challenges.
The Oscar's Book Prize was launched in 2014 in honour of three-year-old Oscar Ashton, who died in 2012 due to an undetected heart disorder.
Oscar is remembered as "a sunny and creative boy, with a quirky, inquiring mind and big brown eyes."
Princess Beatrice at the Coronation in 2023PAHe had a vivid imagination and loved collecting stones, Lego bricks and pound coins, which he called "goldens".
His creative spirit shone through in the stories he told about wolves and gold medals.
Oscar's unique personality was evident when he insisted his toy penguin should attend a nativity service while other children brought stuffed sheep or camels.
He once explained he was looking for shooting stars "because they have fire in their tails".
